Oil well tester



July 14, 1931. I H. F. CAMERON 1 1,814,894

OIL WELL TESTER Filed May 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 14, 1931. H. F. cAMERoN OIL WELL TESTER Filed May 24, 1950 9 m m n 7 I d A i a 5 w a? I! e A C a W m @fl? g. a a i. Z k 4 7/ G E mmnnnmwy\RHMVRHH W "a g6? Z M A/////// ll I m UH,N r r f I w. H f X M 3 [7 7 Patented July 14,1931

\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUGH F. CAMEROTIQOF HONDO/TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-EOURTHS' T EDDIE O.

CAMERON AND GEORGE MUENNINK, $3., BOTH OF HONDO, TEXAS, AND JOE-C.

JOHNSON, or THREE RIVERS, TEXAS OIL WELL TESTER Application filed May 24,

This invention relates to improvements in testing devlces for use 1n connection with 011 well drllllng operatlons.

The primary object of the present inven-" '5 tion is to provide a device for testing formations at various depths in oil wells, which is positive in operation and obtains samples of oil and other foreign matter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tester having an improved form of valve element which is operable for opening or closing from the top ofthe well after the tester has been properly positioned in the bottom thereof. Still another object of the invention is to provide a tester of the above described character having a novel means for *openin h or closing thetester to permit a sample o the fluid in ,the lower part of the well to enter the device or to close the same after the fluid has entered, as the case may The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed de- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the tool embodying the present invention show-- in the same in working position. a

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion of the tool. Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the lower portion of the tool. Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3. I

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken onthe line 6-6 of Figure 3. 7 Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the 1930. Serial No. 455,403.

several views, the numeral 1 indicates the lower portion of a well bore, at the lower end of which is formed the reduced bore 2 which is ,commonly known as the rat hole.

-The tester embodying the present inven- 5 ton comprlsesa tubular casing 3 into the lower end of which'is threadably secured one" end of a plug 4 through which is formed a passage 5. The lower end of this passage 5 is enlarged and threaded as indicated at 6. an Within the casing 3 there is secured uponthe upper end of the plug 4 a bearing ring '7. Disposed within the casing 3 is an elongated tubular body 8 the lower end of which as secured thereto a bearing ring 9 which rests upon the bearing balls 10 which in turn rest upon the ring 7 carried by the .plug 4. The lower end ofthe body 8, which as previously stated is tubular, has interior threads 11 cut thereinto in the manner shown.

The upr end of the body 8 is reduced. slightly forming a neck 12 which extends through the upper end of the body of the casing 3 and terminates in the exteriorly threaded upper portion or head 13. At'the point where the lower end of the neck 12 starts the body 8 is formed to provide a surrounding'shoulder 14 in which, at one point, is formed a slight depressionil5. When the body 8 is in position in the casing 3 the shoulder 14: lies within 3 the casing a slight distance below the. upper end thereof and the casing is formed at a point in the plane occupied by the shoulder 1 1 to provide a boss 16 through which is formed transversely of the casing wall the 95 passage 17. In the inner end of this passage is a pin 18, the inner end of which is rounded in the manner shown and this pin isnormally urged inwardly by the spring 19 which is held in place in the passage 17 by a screw 20.

Formed in the boss 16 at right angles to the bore 17 is a second bore 21. In the inner end of this bore is slidably positioned a pointed pin 22 which is forced inwardly by a spring 23, held in place by a set screw 24. This pin body 8 and bearing upon the shoulder 14 is a packing 25 which is secured in place by a collar 26 threaded into the upper end of the casing 3 in the manner shown. The threaded upper end or head 13 of the body 8 receives a coupling 27 which connects with the body the lower end of the drill stem 28.

Surrounding the plug body 4 and bearing against the lower end of the casing 3 is a washer 29. This washer has bearing thereagainst the upper end'of an inverted cone 30 which, of course, surrounds the plug 4. A key 31 arranged in the side of the plug and extending longitudinally thereof maintains the cone against rotation. This cone, while it may be formed 0f a number of materials, is preferably made up of leather disks placed one upon the other.

Extending downwardly from the plug 4 is a tube 32. the upper end of which is threaded as indicated at 33 and engages in the threaded portion 6 of the plug passage 5. The lower end of this tube is closed but has a small aperture formed therethrough as indicated at 34 for the connection with the tube of a flush valve of any suitable type, the valve being here indicated by the numeral 35 and shown in dotted lines. At a point intermediate its ends the tube 32 has an aperture 36 formed through the wall thereof.

As is shown the threaded area of the tube 32 extends a substantial distance downwardly from the upper end of the tube. This threaded portion carries a nut 37 which'forces upwardly against the lower end of the cone 30 a washer 38 which, as shown, loosely surrounds the tube 32. Thecone 30 extends a slight distance below the lower end of the plug 4 so that, as will be apparent, the compression of the plug 30 between the washers 29 and 38 by the nut 37 can be effected; The threaded portion 33 of the tube may also have mounted thereon a screen (not shown) if it is found desirable to use such an article.

Extending longitudinally through the tool is a longitudinally shiftable .inner tube 39, which at the point 40 substantially midway between its ends has a circumferential enlargement which is threaded as shown. This threaded portion 40 of the shiftable tube 39 engages the threads 11 in the body 8. The tube 39 extends upwardly beyond theupper end of the body 8 and extends downwardly nearly to the bottom of the outer tube 32. This tube 39 is of an exterior diameter to snugly position in the outer tube 32 so that a close contact will be maintained between the adjacent walls of the two tubes. At a point adjacent its lower end the tube 39 has an aperture 41 formed through the wall thereof which may be brought into registration with the aperture 36in the outer tube for the taking of a sample from a well, as will be hereinafter described.

Upon its outer surface at a point preferably adjacent the lower end of the cone 30 the tube 39 has a longitudinally extending flattened portion 42 and this flattened portion is engaged by the inner end of the set screw 43 threaded through the wall of the surrounding outer tube 32.

' As will be readily seen this screw 43 will prevent turning of the tube 39 in the tube 32 but will not interfere with the longitudinal movement of the inner tube.

In operation the tool is attached to the lower end of a drill stem in the manner shown and the body 8 is turned in order to shift the tube, 39 to a position where the aperture 41 will be out of register with the aperture 36 in the tube 32 and the end of the pin 18 will 'be engaged in the notch 15 in the shoulder of the body. The tool is then lowered into the well bore until the portion below the cone 30 enters the rat hole 2 and the cone has been seated firmly against the upper edge of this hole so that the passage of matter from the main well bore downwardly into the rat hole will be prevented. The drill stem is then rotated by any suitable means and this will rotate the body 8 and force the pin 18 out of the notch 15. The pin 13 will then become locked in retracted position by the adjacent pin 22, in the manner previously described, and I by continued rotation of the body through the medium of the drill stem the tube 39 will be shifted longitudinally until the apertures 36 and 41-have been brought into registration. The fluid contents of the rat hole will then, of course, flow through these registered apertures and enter the tube 39 as will be obvious. Continued rotation of the body 8 will then raise the tube 39 to the point where the aperture 41 in the wall thereof will move past the aperture 36 and thus close the interior of the tube against the entrance of further liquid and also prevent the escape of the liquid therein when the tool is raised from the position described. The

I claim is:

1. An oil well testing device, comprising a 4 rat hole closing body adapted to be lowered into a well on the end of a drill stem, a rotary element connected to said body and adapted to be attached to the drill stem, a tubular body carried upon the lower end of said first mentioned body for extension into the rat hole, and longitudinally shiftable means within said tubular body having connection bore, a body in said cone having a longitudi- With said rotatable body whereby it may be nal passage therethrough, a casing connected shifted when the rotatable body is turned for to said body, a rotatable body Within said the admission of fluid from the rat hole into casing and projecting beyond the upper end the tubular body.

2. An oil well tester, comprising a cone for connection to a drill stem, a tube closed body designed to close the upper end ofarat at one end and having its other end concarried by said cone body, a longitudin ly having an aperture through the wallthereof, reciprocable tubular body extending intos id an inner tube having one end extended into first tubular body and having an aperture said first tube and extending longitudinally registerable with the aperture of the first tuthrough said rotatable body, and a threaded bular body, and means adapted to be conconnection between said inner tube and said nected with a supporting drill stem whereby rotatable body whereby upon rotation of upon rotation of the drill stem said second the rotatable body the inner tube will be tubular body will be shifted longitudinally. moved longitudinally to shift an aperture 3. An oil well tester, comprising a cone in the wall thereof relative to the aperture in body designed to close the upper end of a the first mentioned tube. rat hole, an apertured sample receiving 7. An oil well testing device, comprising a tube carried by said cone body, a longitudicone body adapted to close the upper end of a nally reciprocable 'tubular body extending rat hole formed at the bottom of a'well bore, into said first tubular body and having an a body 1n said cone having alongitudinal pasaperture registerable -with the aperture of'the ge therethrough, a casing connected to said first tubular body, and a rotatable element body, a rotatable body within said casing and coupled with said cone having threaded conpro ect1ng beyond the upper end thereof, said nection with said last mentioned tubular body rotatable body being adapted for connection whereby upon rotation the second tubular to a drill stem, a tube .closed at one end and body will be shifted longitudinally through having its other end connected to said first the tool, said rotatable body being adapted m loned body, sald tube havlng an aperture f connection ith a drill t through the Wall thereof, an inner tube hav- 4. An oil well tester, comprising a plug g ne end extended into said first tube and for closing the top of a rat hole formed at extending longitudinally through said rotatth b tt f a ll b n l at d t buable body, a threaded connection between said lar body closed at one end and attached at the 1111181 e nd S ld rotatable body whereby other end to said plug for extension into the p o tlon of the rotatable body the nner rat hole, said body having an aperture tube Wlll be moved longltudinally to shift an through the wall thereof, an elongated tube aperture the Wall thereof vo t h extending through said plug into and snugly aperture in the first mentioned tube, and fitti i id b d id t b h i an aperyleldable means normally restrainlng said hole, an apertured sample receiving gibe nected to said first mentioned body,'said tube ture in the wall thereof designed to register casing and the rotatable y therein against with the aperture in the encasing body, an relativecmovementelement connected to the plug for coupling In a Well tester of the character dethe tool to a drill stem, and means connecting l a rat hole closing plug having a said element with said tube whereby rotation p ssage longltudinally therethrough, a tubuof the element will shift said tube longitudi- 1 aslng connected at one end to said plug, nally in the tool. 7 a rotatable body w1th1n said caslng having a 5. An oil well tester, comprising a rat P e te d Ilg beyondthe upper end of hole closing plug having a passage therethe casing and further having a surrounding thr h, t b havi one d l d d shoulder dlsposed 1n the caslng ad acent the having its other end secured in said plug pp en ther f, sald shoulder having a passage t xt d int aid h l a t b l recess 1n the face thereof, a spring pressed member connected to said plug and mounted member F e by th oaslug and adapted to for rotation, said member being designed for ng g 1n Said e ess, aid member belng connection with a drill-stem, a second tube yleldable upon the applicat on of rotary force having one end snugly reciprocably fitted t0 the ody wbllethe casing 1s being held, into said first tube and extending through 111051118 r f t lmng Sald member n resaid member, and means coupling said memtraoted posltlon after movement of said roher and said second tube whereby rotation of le body, a sample recelver carried by the the member will cause longitudinal movep ug r x ension Into the rat hole, and ment of the second tube and relative movemeans Op rable pon rotatlon of said body ment between registerable apertures in the f mlttlng a sample to said receiver, walls of the tubes. 9. An oil well tester, comprising a rat 6. An oil well testing device, comprising hole closing cone,abody carried by said cone a cone body adapted to close the upper end of and having a passage formed therethrough, a a rat hole formed at the bottom of a well cylindrical casing carried by said body and thereof, said rotatable body being adapted extending upwardly from said cone, a tube closed at one end and havin its other end detachably connected to said body and extending downwardly from said cone, said cone being interposed between a pair of plates one engaging the lower end of said casing, the other surrounding said tube and being forced upwardly by a nut threaded on said tube, a rotatable body in said casing having its upper end extending beyond the upper end of the casing, an anti-friction bearing between said rotatable body and said first body, an elongated inner tube extending longitudinally through said rotatable body and projecting downwardly into said first tube, said tubes having apertures in the walls thereof adapt-ed to be brought into registration one with the other, a threadedconnection between said inner tube and said rotatable body, and means holding said inner tube against rotation, said rotatable body having its upper end formed for connection with the-lower end of a drill stem.

10. An oil well tester, comprising a rat hole closing cone, a body carried by said cone and having a passage formed therethrough, a cylindrical casing carried by said body and extending upwardly from said cone,

a tube closed at one end and having its other end detachably connected to said body and extending downwardly from said cone, said cone being interposed between a pair of plates one engaging the lower end of the casing, the other surrounding said tube and being forced upwardly by a nut threaded on said tube, a rotatable body in said casing having its upper end extending beyond the upper end of the casing, an anti-frictionbearing between said rotatable body and said first body, an elongated inner tube extending longitudinally through said rotatable body and projecting downwardly into said first tube, said tubes having apertures in the walls thereof adapted to be brought into registration one with the other, a threaded connection between said inner tube and said rotatable body, means holding said inner tube against rotation, said rotatable body having its upper end formed for connection with the lower end of a drill stem, and yieldable means for coupling said rotatable body and said casing together.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HUGH F. CAMERON. 

